Barrera next up for Pacquiao

Barrera next up for Pacquiao

Sunday 19 November 2006 20.48 EST
First published on Sunday 19 November 2006 20.48 EST

Manny Pacquiao has already achieved iconic status among his compatriots to the point where he is perhaps the most adored sports star of all time in the Philippines, but he added to his status when he destroyed Mexico's Erik Morales inside three rounds in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the president of the Philippines, broke off from a summit in Hanoi to say: "My heart beats with extreme joy with another victory for the Philippines. We all gathered around in our homes and places of work, in the streets and farms, to pray for Manny. Manny will always be our hero, the bearer of the Filipino dream of winning the good fight in all fields of human endeavour."

Saturday was a sell-out, with more than 18,000 ring-side, and the Philippines is reported to have come to a halt, with deserted streets in Manila as people packed cinemas, shopping malls and sports centres where it was broadcast live. Others watched pay-per-view at home.

Although no major belt was at stake the result underlines the 27-year-old Pacquiao's position of pre-eminence in the super-featherweight division (9st 4lb), arguably the division with more talented fighters than any other. He has already defeated the other top Mexican, Marco Antonio Barrera, holder of the WBC belt, and this win put him 2-1 up on Morales. In a fast-paced battle Morales was sent to the canvas in the second round and twice more in the third before being knocked out three seconds from the end of that round.

Afterwards the 30-year-old Morales, who first won a world title nine years ago, admitted he was contemplating retirement. "He was too fast, too strong. For the first time in my career I felt the power of my opponent. Maybe it's getting to that time." But Pacquiao's devastating two-fist attacks confirmed that he is now at the peak of his powers. "I was faster than him, I was bigger than him," he said. "In the second round I could see he was surprised by my right hook, so I kept on throwing it. I felt so much stronger and faster than him."